Vesak celebration in Germany

Buddha Day was celebrated on the 13^th of May 2012 in Frankfurt by the Burmese Buddhist temple.

About 100 people from different parts of Germany were present at the ceremony. First they recited Metta Bhavana altogether in unison. After that, people offered lunch, consisting of traditional Burmese food, to the present monks. Among them U Zawana, Ashin Kovida and others.

Later they observed the five precepts and listened to Dhamma talks, given by the monks. And Buddhist riddles were included: people who could answer the riddles were given a price. The first price was 75 Euros, second price 50 Euros, third price 30 euros.

Buddha Day is also known as the Vesak celebration. The celebration varies from one Buddhist country to another.

What is Vesak? It is the name of a month in the ancient Indian calendar and it usually falls in May. Vesak Day is the holiest of all Buddhist holy days and embraces a three-fold commemoration because  Buddha was born in 623 B.C on a Vesak full-moon day, and attained Enlightenment on a Vesak full-moon day, and passed away on a Vesak full-moon day, which Theravada Buddhists believe miraculously occurred on the same day. But the exact date of Vesak Day varies according to the various lunar calendars used in different traditions.
By Ashin Kovida